Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
21 November 2024 | 17:00 CAT
3-minute read

Māori lawmakers protest colonial-era treaty bill

The bill, which aims to reinterpret the country’s founding treaty with its Indigenous people, has raised concerns among the Māori community that it compromises the Treaty of Waitangi and limits their rights.

A Te Pāti Māori lawmaker led a haka in Wellington last Thursday. Parliament was temporarily suspended when Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke stood up, tore up her copy of the legislation, and started performing the Māori group dance during the proposal’s first reading.

Thousands of New Zealanders joined a nine-day long hikoi (peaceful march) towards the country’s capital to protest the Treaty Principles Bill.

By Tuesday, over 40 000 Māori and non- Māori protestors had gathered in Wellington outside Parliament buildings.

The Māori, comprising nearly 19% of the country’s population of 5,3 million, are objecting to the bill which places their rights at risk and aims to perpetuate colonialism in the country, Sanusha Naidu reported during this week’s Asia-Pacific segment on Radio Islam International.

“The response to the bill is based on the fact this colonial bill will not necessarily enhance the rights of the Māori people, but rather limit their rights and create more colonial repression,” Naidu, a senior research associate based at the Institute of Global Dialogue, said.

The Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement made in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown and more than 500 Māori chiefs. The principles of the agreement underpin the relationship between the Government and Māori. It protects Māori rights to their land and rangatiratanga (Māori authority). It includes principles around cultural responsibilities, relationships, and legislation.

There are fears that the bill places Māori religious and cultural traditions at risk, highlighting the long-term effects of colonialism on New Zealand’s indigenous people. During the 1300s, the Māori came to the islands of Aotearoa (now New Zealand) from East Polynesia. In 1840, British colonisers took control under the treaty. Under British rule, the Māori suffered mass extermination, territorial aggrandisement, and ethnocide before New Zealand gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947.

According to reports, it is unlikely that the bill introduced by Member of Parliament David Seymour of the ACT Party will be passed into law. It will need at least 62 votes in parliament, and with various other leaders of New Zealand’s coalition government having expressed little support for the bill beyond the committee stage, it is a no-go.

Putin defies US isolation efforts

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signalled his intent to visit India, underscoring a defiance of US-led efforts to isolate him on the global stage. This move reflects the enduring ties between Russia and India, despite mounting international pressure and sanctions on Moscow in light of its conflict with Ukraine.

India has maintained its relationship with Russia, exemplified by ongoing oil trade despite Western sanctions. The partnership, rooted in decades of geopolitical and economic cooperation, remains vital to both nations. Analysts suggest that India’s ability to navigate these challenges signals a broader resistance to Western dominance in global affairs.

Putin’s proposed visit to India comes against the backdrop of his recent trip to Mongolia, a nation that is a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC). This visit, and others like it, challenge the effectiveness of sanctions as a tool for political isolation. They also highlight a shift in international dynamics, where traditional mechanisms of accountability are being tested.

The strengthening of ties between New Delhi and Moscow also bolsters Russia’s global standing, despite its pariah status in the West. For India, balancing these relationships while navigating its own strategic goals remains a delicate but critical endeavour.

Delhi faces pollution crisis

Meanwhile, India faces a domestic crisis of a different kind: severe pollution in its capital, Delhi. The city has been shrouded in a thick blanket of toxic smog, prompting authorities to shut down schools, halt construction projects, and ban non-essential trucks from entering the city.

Residents report burning eyes and difficulty breathing as the city’s air quality reaches hazardous levels. The situation is exacerbated by winter weather, which traps dust, emissions, and smoke from illegal farm fires in surrounding regions.

The crisis highlights the urgency of addressing environmental policy and climate change at both national and international levels. As global leaders gather for the COP28 climate summit, the situation in Delhi serves as a stark reminder of the growing challenges posed by environmental neglect and the need for comprehensive solutions.

Listen to the Asia-Pacific Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.